A UKIP candidate who stood in the Holmwoods by-election has claimed his Liberal Democrat opponents benefited from a "sympathy vote" following the death of a well-respected councillor.

Mick Longhurst, who was described as ‘one of a kind’, died on Saturday May 2 at the age of 83, five days before he was due to stand as a Liberal Democrat candidate for one of the two seats in the Holmwoods ward.

The election was then delayed until June 18, with two seats up for grabs after the resignation of UKIP district councillor Stephen Musgrove, who stepped down from his post citing personal circumstances.

The by-election was won by Liberal Democrats Clayton Wellman and Claire Malcomson, who received 768 and 804 votes respectively.

However, UKIP candidate Michael Foulston, who received 201 votes, said: “I am obviously disappointed that Stephen Morgan and I were unable to win this election, which was delayed following the untimely death of Mick Longhurst, and it is almost certain that the Liberal Democrat candidates benefited from a sympathy vote.

“Mick was a long-serving member of the council and local community and will be sorely missed,” he said.

“Unfortunately, former councillor Stephen Musgrove, who was only elected in 2014, had to resign following an illness of a close family member which necessitated him having to move from Mole Valley.

“It is to his credit that he resigned almost immediately rather than plough on representing his constituents from 40 miles away.

“However, there is often a rebound effect when a councillor resigns part-way through their term of office, which probably occurred on this occasion.”

Cllr Mick Longhurst at the official opening of art installation in the subway/underpass between Chart Downs and the Goodwyns Estate in Dorking in 2013

Following his victory, Councillor Wellman told the Advertiser: “Mick Longhurst was a well-loved and highly respected councillor, and his death was tragic.

“It was a blow felt by everyone in the local Liberal Democrat party and by the community at large.

“We want to pay tribute to his work by continuing his legacy. We do know a lot of loyal voters supported us in tribute to him.

“However, we have built on this loyalty and believe people have already connected with our enthusiasm and energy, which has led to a landslide victory for each of us.”

Both newly elected Liberal Democrat councillors said their number one priority would be to stop further cuts in public services, such as buses, that many people in rural Mole Valley rely on.

Stephen Cooksey, leader of the Mole Valley Liberal Democrats at Pippbrook, said: “The Holmwoods election result was the consequence of very hard work from Claire and Clayton and the Liberal Democrat team and is a fitting tribute to the late councillor Mick Longhurst.

“I would like to thank everyone who turned out to vote for our candidates for their support.

"We now have a full team of three Mole Valley councillors and the county councillor in the Holmwoods who are all fully committed to our communities and their residents.

“The result, particularly in view of the majorities, was a significant turnaround from our performance in the May elections and indicates clearly that we are back as a force to be reckoned with.

“We have the determination and ambition to move on from May to provide a significant alternative to the Conservatives who now control all levels of government in our communities.”